CLAIMS FOR WAGES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2314, 22 March 1930, Page 3

CLAIMS FOR WAGES

A FARM DISPUTE. CLAIM AND SET OFF. At the monthly sitting of the local Magistrate's Court on Thursday, before Mr P. W. Platts, S.M., a claim for balance of wages due amounting to £ll 17/10 was preferred by Arthur Desmond Morris (Mr Darcy Smith, Hamilton) against N. Hopwood, contractor, of Cambridge (Mr Garrard), a set-off also being filed by the defendant. The plaintiff said he in employment at Roto-o-rangi. He commenced working for Mr Hopwood on June "28 as a farmhand, and he and his wife were paid £5 a week as milkers. The arrangement was that a third hand should come on in two months' time. After he had been on the place a little while Mr Hopwood expressed himself as thoroughly satisfied with their work. Some time later as the result of a difference with defendant over the sale of a pig, he handed in his notice to leave in a month's time on September 26. Eventually it was agreed that plaintiff and. his wife should leave in a fortnight. Plaintiff prepared a statement showing the balance of wages due, but defendant replied that he had several little claims to settle up, and he refused to pay the amounf! Plaintiff got a third milker six weeks after plaintiff went on the farm and he left a week before plaintiff. Winifred Eose Morris, wife of the plaintiff, gave corroborative evidence. Robert Harold Marx, farmhand, of Roto-o-rangi, gave evidence to taking a pig from the farm to behold. When he asked whose name it be sold under there was no reply until Mr Hopwood said if. plaintiff regarded it ( as his pig he had better sell it in his name. ."• Fred Walters said he started to work for Mr Hopwood on September 16 and left his employ on Wednesday last. He had had no in getting his wages. Defendant's Case. The defendant, Nicholas Hopwood, said he offered £5 a week for three ■milkers. Plaintiff told him that he had a cousin who could come in a fortnight's time from plaintiff's starting. He replied that he did not mind a week or a fortnight. Between the first week and fortnight plaintiff when the third m'ilker was coming, and Morris replied that the young lady had been' and seen the farm and had gone back. Defendant had had to take extra labour out to the farm to assist as plaintiff had got behind with the work. Regarding' the difference over the pig, in the first place he had stated he would not say how much he would charge plaintiff for the pig until it was found out whether castration had been successful or otherwise. As the result of plaintiff's hurried leaving of the farm he had had to go out andjnilk the cows with assistance he took out. For the non-employment of the third milker he was setting off at the rate of £1 10/- a week; also £3 14/- for wages he had had to pay the assistant ho took out to milk, owing to plaintiff's hurried notice to quite, and £5 for his loss of time covering four days. Alfred Oliver Lowe, sharcmilker, of Leamington, corroborated defendant's evidence regarding plaintiff's departure and having to go out and milk the herd for several days. He received £3 14/- for his services. The Judgment.

The Magistrate gave judgment for plaintiff for £5 3/10, defendant being allowed his set-off of £3 14/- for special labour and his own expenses £3. After deductions for the set-off plaintrff was allowed costs amounting to £4. TRAINER AND JOCKEY'S DISPUTE. * ANOTHER WAGES CLAIM. The claim of Arthur Harris, of Cambridge (Mr D. J. Lundon) for £lO 16/against W. J. McLean, horse-trainer, also of Cambridge (Mr Garrard) was also a dispute over wages. The plaintiff, Arthur Harris, a registered jockey, said he agreed to work for defendant at the rate, of £1 5/- a week. A statement was handed in to the amount of the claim.

To Mr Garrard: Ho was engaged at the rate of £1 5/- and not £1 a week. He worked for Mr McLean for 46 weeks and in January of this year he submitted an account to defendant.

Samuel Carter, draper's assistant, said he was present with Mr Harris when he approached Mr McLean for a job. Mr McLean had replied that he would employ plaintiff at the rate of £1 5/- a week and found. Walter James McLean, horse-trainer, of Cambridge, said he . employed the plaintiff on June 10th. There was little doing, but as plaintiff was out of work he told him he could start. Defendant a.sked him what he had received at Thames. It was £1 a week and defendant agreed to employ him at the same rate.

Robert Donald Calder, stable hand, said he was employed by Mr McLean at the rate.of £1 per week and found. It was the usual rate of pay. Judgment was given for plaintiff for the full amount with costs against defendant totalling £4 5/-. Care of Children. Annie Elizabeth Whitohouge, Child Welfare Officer, brought a complaint against Frederick Edward Burnell, of Cambridge, that the latter, having the custody of two children, was not properly maintaining them. The Magistrate ordered that the children be under the inspection of the Child Welfare Officer for. a period of two years.